Museveni, UAE deputy premier discuss investment opportunities

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President Yoweri Museveni has received United Arab Emirates (UAE) deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was in the country on a one-day official visit.

During the meeting at State House Entebbe on May 7, 2025, President Museveni thanked Abdullah and the UAE government for the long-standing friendship with the East African country.

“I welcome you to Uganda and thank you and your government for being ready to work with us,” he said.

“Our work with Arab countries is not new. We started with mainly North Africa; Egypt in the 1950s when we were fighting for independence, then Algeria after they got independence and later with Libya, while Saudi Arabia we had cultural relations,” he added.

President Museveni receives United Arab Emirates' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed AlNahyan, at State House Entebbe on Wednesday. (PPU Photo)

President Museveni together with UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, H.H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed AlNahyan (in red tie), share a light moment with the Oil Refinery investors at State House Entebbe. (PPU)

President Museveni also noted that the time he visited the UAE in 2014, he saw a big potential for cooperation, especially in areas of manufacturing, agro-processing, minerals, infrastructure, services that include tourism as well as defence.

He therefore called on the UAE companies to take an interest in investing in Uganda if the two countries are to benefit from the complementarity that exists between them. He said they can also invest in road tolls to link Uganda with the common markets in neighbouring countries, which he said have huge potential for business.

Some of the UAE delegation that attended the meeting at State House Entebbe on Wednesday. (PPU Photo)

On his part, Sheikh Abdullah conveyed greetings from the leadership of UAE to President Museveni as well as best wishes for development and prosperity to the people of Uganda.

He also expressed his country’s commitment to strengthening trade ties and co-operation with Uganda, as well as establishing effective development partnerships that support both countries' aspirations for sustainable growth and prosperity.

Works and Transport Minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala, signing an MoU with one of the senior officials of the visiting UAE delegation at Entebbe on Wednesday. (PPU Photo)

Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa, signing an MoU with one of the senior officials of the visiting UAE delegation at Entebbe on Wednesday. (PPU Photo)

Foreign Affairs Minister, Jeje Odong, signing an MoU with one of the senior officials of the visiting UAE delegation at Entebbe on Wednesday. (PPU Photo)

Following the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah and President Museveni witnessed the signing of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the two countries.

The MoUs that were signed included that of Works and Transport, that of Diplomatic Training and Capacity Building, Visa Exemption Agreement, Joint Development Agreement, E-government and Digital transformation, as well as Protection of Investment.

President Museveni chats with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of of United Arab Emirates, H.H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed AlNahyan (2nd L in glasses), as his delegation looks on. (R) is PM Robinah Nabbanja. (PPU)